10 lessons from 1 year of my greeting card business 💌

I started the greeting card side-business of my art studio a year ago and boy have I learned a lot! From technical card design details, trends and must-have card themes, to strategies for wholesaling, there are a lot of things I know now that I wish I'd known then. So I wrote it all down and then made this video to share with you!
If you have any questions about making or selling cards that I didn't cover, please put it in the comments and I'll do my best to answer! ☺️
Products mentioned:
- my fave greeting card paper: www.thepapermillstore.com/kro...
- white envelopes that I like: amzn.to/46e3GTM
- my printer, Epson Ecotank 2400: amzn.to/3sljIO8
🌸
Hi, I'm Rebecca and I run Lucky Sprout Studio! I am an artist and graphic designer and love making cute artwork and fun stationery products. On my channel you can find art/product tutorials, business advice, and studio vlogs! I hope you'll join me~~
Also find me here:
🌸 social media: / luckysprout.studio
🌸 my art studio shop: luckysproutstudio.com
🌸 learn more with me on Skillshare: www.skillshare.com/en/r/profi... (that’s my referral link - get 1 month free & try my classes!)
please subscribe if you love being a cute artist and doing cute artist things w me~

[@michaelcsweeney8435]

Hi, just a note on the paper weight. The pounds do not necessarily indicate how thick or dense the paper is. There "should be" an indication of gsm (grams per square meter) or gm2 something like that. You may be able to get away with something lower, but I aim for paper in the 300 gsm range. I users 110 lb (300 gsm) paper. It is sturdy and makes for a decent card. Interesting info about the smooth on one side and matt finish on the other paper. I never even considered such a thing. I don't sell (yet) but do print my own greeting cards. I use an Epson echotank 8550 all in one printer. It prints photos as well as normal paper and cardstock. You can get 10 - 20 sheets of cardstock (300gsm) paper in the rear feed tray. (It has a lower tray, but the heavy paper won't feed from it). And it will print on up to 13 x 19 inch paper. There are stumbling blocks everywhere it seems, so, thanks for the info on the quirks of wholesale, print services and such. Best wishes.

[@cathyshafer8962]

Great job! Great information, clear presentation, organized, this is an A+ vit. Thank you 🙏

[@lynsayghia9103]

Thank you for sharing your experience so authentically, it was really insightful 🌻

[@KaliHuntArt]

Thanks great video

[@kittycat1302]

Thank you so much for the great information! I’m thinking of selling my art via greeting cards.

[@lmlowe9100]

Self-adhesive envelopes. Welcome. :)

[@keiramaxwell8129]

Thank you so much for making this video, it was super helpful!! My sister and I run a handmade greeting cards business together and we've been looking to expand but haven't been sure how. Currently we only sell in person but your advice will definitely help us start selling online and expanding our business! Thanks again :D

[@chromagraphphotoart]

I really like your delivery and warm, 'homespun' style, really reassuring. Just dipping a toe at the moment, but I have the advantage of potentially thousands of images in my photographic library to draw on. I'm going to focus on Botanical images in particular, but also landscapes and more quirky stuff. Plus also I do analogue, so that has a certain cachet (possibly more money) Very useful video.

[@holmesalthea77]

Thanks for this information!! You're awesome.

[@AllIsWellaus]

Kia oraa, I'm genuinely impressed by your video. I made it this far, kiss back. Seriously, I enjoyed what you had to share. I'm dipping my toes in a genre that is world's apart from my art practice and it feels exciting and now a little less scary. I like amongst the things that align with the more practical side of our greeting cards, is the options with ordering stock. For those that haven't, even when your expecting the bill, you hope you're getting it right when its for fifteen hundred dollars (NZD). I will be thinking of investing in a printer. I'd like to reach a foreiign market, its a bit daunting living in Aotearoa (NZL).

[@mellularphone]

This was really useful, thank you!

[@stacymoffatt]

Thank you for sharing!

[@MyQuitters]

Love your very clear and informative video!

[@TimeMachineTeacher]

This is great info! Thanks!

[@joanrempel]

I love crafting, love cards have always wanted to give it a go for marketing my own. I enjoy photography and Canada and hey this was very helpful and you're so fun to listen to will certainly check out your other stuff. Thanks a bunch.

[@JuliaFrost]

Great video, thank you!

[@OMGSardina]

Very informative video! Thank you, you're awesome!

[@valiate]

Thank you so much, very useful info, I'm looking forward to putting your tips to use :) blessings from Miami

[@handstitchedlife]

I was subscribed to your box for a few months and I LOVE the quality of the cards and the designs you've offered. This was super insightful, and as a fellow business owner, I appreciate hearing more about the business side of things!

[@luckysprout]

Thanks for your kind words!! I don't think I've ever had a box offering so maybe that wasn't me, but I appreciate the sentiment anyway!! 🥰

[@AngelicscalliwagsArt]

Thank you! I'm just starting out and this was very helpful!

[@luckysprout]

I'm so glad to hear it! Good luck on your greeting card journey!~

[@mariannemcginnis7274]

Thank you for making this excellent primer! I really appreciate your clear and simple explanations. It felt like talking to a friend! I am also a painter/artist and I'm just about to start my greeting card business. I was making them by hand but i think its time to print, lol! Thanks again, I'll check out your other content. Good luck!

[@car99don]

Thank you! ❤

[@donndexx77]

Thank you for this informative video.

[@MotivateNproceed]

Thank you for the great info. Greetings from Oshawa, ON

[@comfortandjoy9489]

Somewhere I saw the idea of stacking your thick paper alternating with regular copy paper, then set your printer to only print every other paper. Then you don’t have to babysit the printer. Let us know if it works, I don’t have a great printer yet!

[@luckysprout]

That's interesting, thanks for the tip! :)

[@elizabethandiosa4579]

Hello Rebecca, I love your cards. Thank you for sharing. I have been contemplating a card art business for some time. It was a pleasure watching your video.

[@luckysprout]

Thank you so much for watching! I hope I helped inspire your business planning a little ☺️

[@pirroppi]

This is so helpful! I'm happy I found someone who is more targeted to Canadians. Would really love to see the in depth pricing video because that is one thing that I've been having difficulty with. Can't wait to dig in to the rest of your vids!

[@luckysprout]

Thanks so much for watching! I am working on my pricing videos but keep delaying because there's soooo much to share and I'm struggling with how to pack it all in 😅 hopefully soon though!

[@Bugsfacepaint]

This is so helpful!! Thank you ❤

[@ayeshabutt8926]

Such an informative video. I’m starting soon, but didn’t know how and what to plan. You broke it down perfectly

[@ayaali5007]

You are so beautiful and smart ❤️good job ❤️

[@VanIsleWhimsy]

Thank you so much for all that information. Some of it I knew already, but I never thought about using Staples, because I wanted everything in house. I have an Epson EcoTank 8500, and it's GREAT with heavier duty paper. It also has a flat pass through from the back that can deal with even heavier paper. I agree about the inks, my god, the prints I get on photo paper are GORGEOUS and I feel like I've discovered a diamond every time it spits out a new one. I am just getting into greeting cards (just prints from my art for now), but I am finding printing on card stock to be extremely frustrating. It doesn't seem to matter which printer profile I use, everything comes out faded when I print onto the 120lb Neenah Classic Crest white paper. I don't understand why, it drives me so crazy! Do you mind if I ask what settings you use to get a proper print? Finally, I love that you're doing this full time. As a fellow Canadian (Vancouver Island), it's what I've dreamed of for many years, and in the past year, tried taking my art much more seriously. I have seriously developed my skill, and a specific style has emerged. I am joining the craft fair market for the first time ever next month. I was considering getting some stamps with wording on them, and then just stamping the inside, but that seems like a LOT of work! I did not know people would want to even look at the 5x7, that seems like a huge card to me! Interesting.

[@carolinecaroline2264]

I have the ecotank and it does have a hard time with thinker paper. I feel the colors are off but I am using regular paper, what kind of markets do you go to? I was thinking about craft fairs, do you think that's a good idea?

[@jimindraws]

Thank you this video was super helpful! I was wondering if you could make a video of your step by step to making a greeting card! I am especially curious about how you print the cards (printer, printer settings, paper etc). Thank you!

[@luckysprout]

Thanks so much for watching! I actually don't print my cards myself so I don't have any tips (I have trouble sourcing the paper I like myself) but if I ever develop an at-home method I'll certainly make a video about it! :)

[@BeatrizAlbrechtRose]

🤗🥰🥰 congrats! Could you please share the paper you got from Michael’s? Thank you

[@lindyperez3268]

The cards are on sale at staples now here in the US!

[@luckysprout]

Oh amazing! I guess they have a different schedule than Canada ☺️

[@sallyazzato3481]

I'm just starting in cards- have you looked into designing on canva and having them print? Just wondering the quality and pricing, I'm planning to sell

[@joyneasleystudios]

I have the eco tank 2800 and it has the same problem with thick paper

[@luckysprout]

So frustrating right? Are you able to feed them through one at a time at least?

[@joyneasleystudios]

Sometimes. My Fine Art Paper is too thick for even feeding it through

[@luckysprout]

@@joyneasleystudios So frustrating! And it never tells you this before you buy of course 😩

[@karen-fg]

@@luckysproutI also have the 2800 and I gave up on 100#. I just do 80# until I can upgrade.

[@simplyelinor]

I'm struggling with finding small displays for my cards

[@luckysprout]

I hear ya! The two DIY display videos on my channel are my solution but I've also seen good options with one card per design bulldog-clipped to a board. I'm going to try and DIY a spinning display with an IKEA lazy susan soon so I'll share the process!

[@jeanettecook1088]

Hi, thank you for this video... I do have a question. Do you identify the source of your cards, on the backs, in any kind of signature? I've been making watercolor cards for a while and want to expand my business into printed cards. I am interested in how you identify your cards, as a way of helping your business grow in future. Thank you!🎉

[@luckysprout]

Hi! Yes, the back of my cards has my logo, my name and the current year with a copyright logo, and then my website URL. It's all at the bottom of the back of the card and takes up maybe 1.5 square inches of space. Hope that helps! :)

[@jeanettecook1088]

​@luckysprout Hi, yes that does help. Thank you for your reply! I have my name and email, stamped on the back of my cards, because I don't have a website yet. For several years, I sold jewelery through an Etsy site, but I've become disillusioned with Etsy. Considering a private URL or one under Squarespace for my cards. Have you any experience with either Etsy or Squarespace?🎉

[@luckysprout]

@@jeanettecook1088 I only use Etsy for digital products because the fees are too high imo! I use a Woocommerce store which is pretty DIY, but I know most people go with Squarespace or Shopify because of how easy they are. I would, at the very least, get a URL and have it redirect to your Etsy shop (or wherever makes sense) and put that on the back of the card; that way if you do run a self-hosted store with it later on, your cards will all still have the right address on them :)

[@nandysonu6057]

Hi i follow ur all video it’s great, can u make a detailed step by step making greeting card on canva ?

[@luckysprout]

Hey! I have a video called "DIY Greeting Card Tutorial" that might be helpful, and I also have a Skillshare course on designing printable greeting cards in Canva (link is in all my video descriptions ☺️)

[@user-je4me8ew5f]

I think you meant A5 instead of A2 ? A2 is like four A4, much bigger…. ;)

[@heylifecoach]

Great video, 🎉🎉🎉 Do you need a sellers permit to sell greeting cards???

[@luckysprout]

Thanks! I think it will perhaps depend where you live? Here in Canada you need a sole proprietor registration to operate under a business name, which isn't very expensive to set up. :)

[@shays_creations]

My printer stopped printing my 120 lb paper. Now I can only use 216gsm. I can't afford another printer.

[@moniquebeeboobop]

How did you come up with such a cute business name ?❤

[@luckysprout]

It was actually the name of a food blog I tried to start years ago! It didn't really go anywhere but Lucky Sprout stayed as my social handle, so when I started my art business I just added "Studio" to the end 🥰

[@cinsationaldesignsbycindyb7405]

I’ve made A2 cards for a few years. But mine are made with ink and stamps and all that.

[@cinsationaldesignsbycindyb7405]

My favorite cards to make were Halloween but no one buys those 😭😂

[@nicolanursingjourney9324]

Girl I know your pain in Canada, there’ll all in the states.

[@loganthemachine7841]

Yea, find the cheaper source, no don’t find the cheapest source.

[@lmlowe9100]

Where do you get the plastic sleeves for your cards? Thx

[@Natronic]

Great video. Lots of solid info, thank you.